Franco Cenci's GladiAttori: Soccer Players as Modern Gladiators

Franco Cenci, an Italian artist born in Monterotondo in 1958 and based in Rome, discusses his project GladiAttori, which explores the theme of play, particularly soccer. The project draws a parallel between soccer players and Roman gladiators, inspired by a stele in the Antiquarium Alda Levi in Rome. Cenci's work combines historical memory with fiction, creating objects that appear ancient but are deliberately fake. The exhibition includes puzzles, cases, and embroideries, alongside a series of photographic portraits called Fan Club, depicting boys in a dreamlike state. Cenci's background includes studies on Antonio Donghi, graphic design at IED Rome, and involvement in Mail Art. He cites influences such as Picasso, Matisse, Chagall, Depero, Donghi, Gianni Colombo, and Christian Boltanski. His previous projects include Beatrice… una storia ritrovata (2005), Armata innocenza, and Ritratti volanti (2010). Cenci expresses a desire to bring GladiAttori to the Museo San Siro in Milan and is working on a new project, La prima stanza, reconstructing childhood rooms of friends and acquaintances.